BWH Lupus Program Team
![](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Lupus-group-photo-5.21.2023-scaled.jpg)
![](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Lupus-Team_1.23.18-1.jpg)
i. Front from L to R: Cameron Speyer, Paul Hoover, Paul Dellaripa, Cianna Leatherwood, Peter Schur, Susan Ritter, Laura Tarter, Sara Tedeschi, Corine Sinnette, Elena Massarotti
ii. Back from L to R: Courtnie Phillip, Nyla Brewster, Sarah Chen, Shreya Patel, Nicole Yang, Nancy Shadick, Karen Costenbader, Candace Feldman, Helena Jonsson, Deepak Rao, Selena Huang
Leadership
![Karen H. Costenbader, MD, MPH](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Lupus-Bios-5-e1723652432378.png)
Karen H. Costenbader, MD, MPH
Director, Lupus Program
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Karen Costenbader is a rheumatologist and epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she is Director of the BWH Lupus Program, the inaugural incumbent of the Michael E. Weinblatt, MD, Distinguished Chair in Clinical Rheumatology, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She specializes in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and related connective tissue diseases.
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![Laura Tarter, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Laura-L.-Tarter-e1719595736445.jpg)
Laura Tarter, MD
Director, Pregnancy and Reproductive Health
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
As the majority of lupus patients are of child-bearing age, family planning and reproductive health are often affected by the disease. Lupus can complicate pregnancy and contraception choices. Dr. Tarter is an expert in both the care of lupus and in guiding people with lupus and their families though the sometimes-complicated decisions regarding reproductive health and pregnancy. She works closely with the renowned Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists at BWH.
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![Elena Massarotti, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Lupus-Bios-2-e1723652345567.png)
Elena Massarotti, MD
Director, Clinical Trials Program
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Elena Massarotti is a rheumatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she is the Clinical Director of the BWH Lupus Center, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She specializes in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and related connective tissue diseases. She received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Providers
![Paul Dellaripa, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Dr-Paul-Dellaripa.png)
Paul Dellaripa, MD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Paul Dellaripa is Co-Director of the BWH Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Clinic. His areas of interest include pulmonary manifestations of rheumatic diseases and clinical trials in ILD in the rheumatic diseases.
![Patricia Fraser, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Fraser-e1719597476528.jpg)
Patricia Fraser, MD
Dr. Pat Fraser cares for patients with lupus and lupus-related diseases. She has a particular interest in the epidemiology of lupus in different racial and ethnic groups, and also in environmental risk factors for lupus.
![Paul Hoover, MD, PhD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Paul-Hoover.png)
Paul Hoover, MD, PhD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Paul Hoover received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine, followed by medical residency and rheumatology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
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![Candace Feldman, MD, MPH, ScD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Dr.-Candace-H.-Feldman.jpg)
Candace Feldman, MD, MPH, ScD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Candace Feldman is a rheumatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Within the Lupus Center, she currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach and Patient Engagement. Clinically, she maintains a specific focus on the care of patients with lupus as well as patients with complex medical and social needs. Her NIH-funded research focuses on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities in rheumatic diseases and intervention design to reduce disparities in avoidable outcomes.
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![Deepak Rao, MD, PhD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dr.-Deepak-Rao-new.png)
Deepak Rao, MD, PhD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Deepak Rao is an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-Director of the BWH Human Immunology Center. His research focuses on understanding the immune cells that cause inflammation in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis using cutting-edge technologies such as CyTOF and RNA sequencing.
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![Nancy Shadick, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dr-Nancy-Shadick-new.png)
Nancy Shadick, MD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
BRASS Study
Dr. Nancy Shadick is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Director of Translational Research Development in the Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy and co-founder and principal investigator of the BRASS study, one of the largest single center cohorts of RA in the nation.
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![Nicole Smith, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Smith.jpg)
Nicole Smith, MD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Nicole Smith is a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she is the Clinical Director of the Maternal Fetal Medicine practice, and an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harvard Medical School.
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![Ruth Ann Vleugels, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Ruth-Ann-Vleugels.jpg)
Ruth Ann Vleugels, MD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Ruth Ann Vleugels, serves as Director of the Autoimmune Skin Disease Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Co-Director of the Rheumatology-Dermatology Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital.
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![Mary-Beth Son, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/mary-beth-son.jpg)
Mary-Beth Son, MD
Children’s Hospital Physician Profile
Dr. Mary-Beth Son attended the University of Massachusetts Medical School and completed internship, residency and chief residency in pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). She then completed a fellowship in pediatric rheumatology at BCH.
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![Shamik Bhattacharyya, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Shamik-Bhattacharyya.png)
Shamik Bhattacharyya, MD
![Joyce Chang, MD, MSCE](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Chang_Joyce-headshot.jpeg)
Joyce Chang, MD, MSCE
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BCH Physician Profile
Dr. Joyce Chang is a pediatric rheumatologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she currently serves as Director of Research for the BCH Lupus Program.
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![Gearoid McMahon, MB BCh FASN](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/McMahon-e1723650050979.jpg)
Gearoid McMahon, MB BCh FASN
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
I am a Nephrologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a member of the faculty of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
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![Brittany Weber, MD, PhD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Brittany-Weber-headshot.jpg)
Brittany Weber, MD, PhD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Brittany Weber is an advanced cardiovascular fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She completed her M.D. and her Ph.D. in immunology at the University of Pennsylvania and then trained in internal medicine and cardiology at BWH, where she served as chief medical resident.
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![Rosemary Reiss, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Rosemary-Reiss.jpg)
Rosemary Reiss, MD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Rosemary Reiss is a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School.
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![Emily Robinson, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Robinson.jpg)
Emily Robinson, MD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Emily Robinson is a clinical nephrologist at BWH and serves as the Director of Community Nephrology.
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![Alice Sheridan, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/alice-sheridan-headshot.jpg)
Alice Sheridan, MD
![Angela Gupta, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/A_Gupta_Photo.jpg)
Angela Gupta, MD
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Angela Gupta is a rheumatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She completed her rheumatology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
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Fellows
![May Choi, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Choi-Headshot.jpg)
May Choi, MD
Dr. May Choi is a rheumatologist from Alberta, Canada. She is working with Dr. Karen Costenbader for the next two years coordinating an international study on how certain lupus specific lab tests correlate with patient outcomes over time.
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![Siobhan Case, MD, MHS](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Case_Headshot_2020.jpg)
Siobhan Case, MD, MHS
Dr. Siobhan Case got her medical degree and masters of health science from the Yale School of Medicine before coming to train at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. She completed residency in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and is now doing a combined Med-Peds Rheumatology fellowship. She hopes to provide care for patients with autoimmune diseases like lupus as they transition from pediatric to adult care.
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![Alice Horisberger, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Alice-Headshot-2-scaled-e1723649153158.jpg)
Alice Horisberger, MD
Dr. Alice Horisberger completed her residency in Internal Medicine followed by a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology in Lausanne, Switzerland. During her training, she developed a keen interest in autoimmune diseases especially lupus.
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![Yumeko Kawano, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/yumeko-headshot-e1668091781264.jpg)
Yumeko Kawano, MD
Dr. Yumeko Kawano completed her residency in internal medicine at Stanford and is currently a rheumatology fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
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![Jeong Yee, PharmD, PhD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/photo_JY_square.png)
Jeong Yee, PharmD, PhD
Dr. Jeong Yee is a research fellow for the Lupus Center working with Dr. Karen Costenbader. She completed her PharmD and PhD at Ewha Womans University, South Korea. Her research interests include identifying clinical and genetic risk factors for rheumatic diseases and developing precision medicine strategies with a specific focus on systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Research Staff
![Emily Oakes](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/emily-website-e1723649911556.jpg)
Emily Oakes
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Emily is a senior research assistant for the Lupus Center working under the direction of Dr. Karen Costenbader. She graduated from Brown University in May of 2021. There, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health and English.
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Emily is originally from Boxford, Massachusetts. In her free time, she enjoys yoga and reading.
![Norioscar (Nori) Cabello](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Nori-Headshot.jpg)
Norioscar (Nori) Cabello
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Nori is a Clinical Research Coordinator working under Dr. Costenbader. She identifies as a Latina with a physical disability. Nori obtained her BS in Psychology from UMass Boston and minored in Latino studies. In 2021, she joined MGB as an RA for the AllofUs Research program while being a grad student at Northeastern. In 2024, Nori obtained her MPH with a focus in Urban Health.
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Nori has worked within research since undergrad as well as a McNair Research scholar. Throughout her research journey, she has done work with Participatory Action Research studies, public policy research, and most recently genetic health research. Nori’s research interest is mainly in preventative care through a social and environmental lens for communities. Nori loves going out to try new food, is an avid gamer, and loves spending time with her family.
![Becky Summit](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Becky-Headshot-e1723649795446.jpeg)
Becky Summit
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Becky is a research assistant working with Dr. Candace Feldman. She first joined the research staff as a part-time employee in February of 2022 while she finished up her senior year at Boston University, then joined as a full-time employee in July of 2022. Becky works primarily on a project screening and addressing Social Determinants of Health-related needs in Rheumatology patients across Mass General and Brigham and Women’s.
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Becky came to Boston from Portland, Oregon to attend Boston University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience in May of 2022 and decided to stay in this beautiful city after college. Outside of work, Becky loves to read, write, run and explore Boston. She also participates in a club Quidditch team, continuing the Harry Potter-inspired sport she began in college.
![Heather Roland](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Heather-Headshot.jpg)
Heather Roland
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Heather is a clinical research coordinator working under the direction of Dr. Deepak Rao. She graduated May 2024 from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and completed minors in Compassionate Care in Medicine and Anthropology. Heather joined BWH July 2024 and works in both clinical and laboratory settings managing patient recruitment, completing IRB related tasks, and processing samples.
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Heather is originally from Lancaster, PA and has lived in Cape May, NJ before moving to Boston. She is an avid football fan and spends her free time volunteering, cooking, and reading.
Alumni and Interns
![Greta Sirek (2024)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Greta-Sirek-Headshot--scaled.jpeg)
Greta Sirek (2024)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
At the Lupus Center, Greta works with Dr. Candace Feldman on projects that aim to reduce health inequities within the field of Rheumatology. Greta is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated from Middlebury College in 2022.
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At Middlebury, Greta studied Neuroscience with a minor in Global Health and ran for the Middlebury Cross-Country and Track & Field Team. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, Nordic skiing, and watching sitcoms.
![Ifeoluwakiisi Adejoorin (2024)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Adejoorin-Ifeoluwakiisi-headshot-1.jpg)
Ifeoluwakiisi Adejoorin (2024)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Ifeoluwakiisi joined the Lupus Center as a research assistant under Dr Deepak Rao in May 2021 and supports projects related to lupus and other auto immune diseases. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Howard University in 2021.
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![Eilish Dillon (2024)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/EDillon-Headshot-e1723650228995.jpg)
Eilish Dillon (2024)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Eilish Dillon graduated from University of Massachusetts Boston in Spring 2022 with a degree in biology. She is a research assistant in Deepak Rao’s lab and manages patient recruitment, IRB related tasks, and sample processing.
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![Julia Caldropoli (2024)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Julia-Headshot-e1723651207442.jpg)
Julia Caldropoli (2024)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Julia is a research assistant for the Lupus Center working with Dr. Karen Costenbader. She graduated from Cornell University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology.
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![Jacob J.E. Koopman, MD, PhD (2024)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bart-headshot.jpg)
Jacob J.E. Koopman, MD, PhD (2024)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Jacob (Bart) Koopman was a research fellow in 2023-2024 for the Lupus Center working with Dr. Karen Costenbader. He completed his degrees at Leiden University Medical Center and Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands. He currently works as a clinical immunologist at University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands.
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![Peter Schur, MD](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Lupus-Bios-7.png)
Peter Schur, MD
Director Emeritus
Harvard Catalyst Profile
BWH Physician Profile
Dr. Peter Schur, Director Emeritus, is an integral, member of the BWH Rheumatology Department and the founding director of the BWH Lupus Center. He is also an internationally recognized leader in lupus research and care. Born in Vienna, Austria, his family immigrated to the US in 1939.
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![Jack Ellrodt (2023)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/jack-headshot-scaled.jpg)
Jack Ellrodt (2023)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Jack is a senior research assistant under Dr. Costenbader and rejoined the Lupus Center after he worked as a summer intern in 2019. He currently maintains the BWH Lupus Registry, Lupus Center community outreach initiatives, and coordinates several ongoing research projects related to lupus and autoimmune disease.
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![Lin Chen (2022)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Lin-Chen-headshot-scaled-e1723651147209.jpeg)
Lin Chen (2022)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Lin joined the Lupus Center team in August 2020 and coordinates projects that focus on improving lupus diagnosis and treatment. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Cell and Molecular Biology from Boston University in 2020.
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Originally from Southern Massachusetts, Lin enjoys reading, walking along the Charles River, and watching mystery shows in her free time.
![Sciaska Ulysse (2023)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/thumbnail_image-e1723650416739.png)
Sciaska Ulysse (2023)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Sciaska Ulysse is from Roselle, New Jersey, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021. There she studied Neuroscience with two minors in Healthcare Management and Chemistry.
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![Jessica Williams, MD, MPH](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jessica-Williams.jpg)
Jessica Williams, MD, MPH
Dr. Jessica Williams received her medical degree and master of public health degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She is passionate about the care of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
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![Emma Stevens (2021)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Stevens-8.28.19-e1723650520265.jpg)
Emma Stevens (2021)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Originally from Napa California, Emma graduated from Bowdoin College in May. There she played Softball,and studied the effects of Ocean Acidification on coastal communities.
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![Kreager Taber (2021)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Kreager-Taber-e1723650599404.jpg)
Kreager Taber (2021)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Kreager Taber is originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, and graduated from Middlebury College in 2019. There she studied Neuroscience with a minor in Global Health, and also pole vaulted for Middlebury’s Track and Field Team.
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![Emily Sanchez (2022)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Emily-Sanchez-headshot-e1723650686104.jpg)
Emily Sanchez (2022)
Lupus Center Intern
Emily is a Research Intern at the Lupus Center working under Dr. Karen Costenbader. She is currently a senior at Harvard College studying Integrative Biology and Global Health and Health Policy. Emily intends to write a senior thesis relating to the development of lupus and disparities in diagnostic care for minority patients with lupus.
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![Danielle Moreno (2023)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Danielle-Moreno-Headshot.jpg)
Danielle Moreno (2023)
Lupus Center Research Manager
Danielle is a rising senior at Northwestern University studying Neuroscience and Global Health. She is working under Dr. Karen Costenbader as a research trainee for the summer of 2023. Her individual project focuses on Neuropsychiatric Lupus prevalence at Mass General Brigham.
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![Corine Sinnette (2019)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Corine-Sinnette-e1538517887391.png)
Corine Sinnette (2019)
Lupus Center Research Manager
Corine Sinnette joined the Lupus Center in May 2016. She has dual Master’s degrees in Medical Anthropology and Public Health from Case Western Reserve University, and has worked in both clinical and community research settings in different research roles.
![Simran Sahni (2018)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Simran-Sahni.png)
Simran Sahni (2018)
Smith College. Biological Sciences. Class of 2019
![Courtnie Phillip (2019)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Courtnie-Phillip-e1723651024795.png)
Courtnie Phillip (2019)
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Courtnie Phillip is a native New Yorker, who graduated from Tufts University in 2017. There she studied International Relations with a concentration in Global Health, Nutrition and the Environment.
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![Cameron Speyer (2019)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Cami-e1723650843844.jpg)
Cameron Speyer (2019)
Research Assistant
Cami joined the Lupus Center team in June 2017. She grew up in Santa Monica, California, came out east for undergrad, and never left! Cami graduated from Williams College (’17) where she double majored in Biology and History. She worked for Dr. Costenbader studying lupus risk factors, severity and outcomes.
![Adel Andemeskel (2016)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Adel-Andemeskel-e1538518048515.png)
Adel Andemeskel (2016)
Stanford University. Biology. Class of 2017
![Nyla Brewster (2017)](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Nyla-Brewster-e1723650944128.jpg)
Nyla Brewster (2017)
Fontbonne Academy. Harvard College. Undecided. Expected year of graduation is 2022.
![Greg Keras](https://lupus.bwh.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Greg-Keras.jpg)
Greg Keras
Lupus Center Research Assistant
Greg Keras is a research assistant for the Lupus Center who helps manage and recruit subjects for various studies. He graduated from Salve Regina University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
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